Showing posts with label Fox. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fox. Show all posts
Interview: Everything's Zen with Satisfaction's Tzi Ma
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| Tzi Ma as Satisfaction's Zen Master |
Celebrity Extra: You were working on “24: Live Another Day” when you got the call to come in to work for “Satisfaction.” How did you work that out?
Tzi Ma: It truly was a logistical nightmare. But thank goodness it all worked out, because I tell you, “Satisfaction” was on the brink of replacing me. I was supposed to be in Atlanta by the middle of May, and I was still in England (for “24”). I flew straight from London to Atlanta, and I was still on hold for “24,” just in case we needed to reshoot anything.
I had shot the first episode of “Satisfaction,” but by the time I was done with “24,” they were on the fifth episode. I went and did four episodes in a row. They waited for me. Sean Jablonski, the creator of the show, is so nice. He’s just so generous and so supportive and trusting. It worked out good. I’m so thankful that they waited.
CE: Tell me about the Zen Master.
TM: The one thing I liked about what Sean was, when we talked about the character, we didn’t want this guy to be your stereotypical Zen master who just sits quietly. We’re playing him as a pretty normal guy. And that’s what I appreciate. It’s hard to do these things. Once they say you are the Zen master, you can get stuck. It’s hard to break out of that controlled, stately idea of the character.
You’re supposed to be wise, and you’re supposed to be able to talk in metaphors, and everybody will just say, “Oh my God, this is so crazy and so wonderful.” That’s not how we approached this guy. We approached him as a true practitioner of Zen in that everything’s in the moment. He has no premeditated thoughts about why this guy is coming to him. That’s how we approached the relationship between Neil and the Zen Master. If it were just a regular Zen master, I may not have wanted to play the role.
CE: When you prepared for the role, how did you approach it?
TM: The one thing I asked from our directors was, “If there’s any time that you feel that I’m just reading a line, please let me know, because that’s what I don’t want.” We have wonderful writers on the show, so you don’t want to mess that up. They get paid the big bucks for a reason.
CE: We don’t get to see a lot of the Zen Master, but when we do, his scenes are always important. Will we get to see more of him?
TM: No, I’m never featured heavily. It wouldn’t work that way. It has to be that he’s the guy who comes in and transitions himself out. But there are some little twists in an upcoming episode where it comes out that he is not really using the “Zen” philosophy to talk to Neil about certain things.
TM: I was excited. (Writers) Evan (Katz) and Manny (Coto) called, and they talked to me about it. They said, “We’re thinking about doing this, but it’s going to be really intense. And we don’t want to tell you too much. We really want everyone to be surprised.” We didn’t know what the ending was going to be. But given what they told me, I really felt that this character was almost like a new character. The stakes were much higher because he had nobody to answer to, just like Jack Bauer. That parallel is very exciting.
CE: What was the reaction from “24” viewers concerning your return?
TM: The reaction has been great. The one thing about the fans that’s so cool is that they don’t come up to me and spit in my face, like: “Oh, I hate you! You’re against Jack Bauer!” It’s a love/hate relationship. It’s like: “I hate you. Can I take a picture?” I’m a character actor. I try not to be so visible out in public. To be recognized that way in such a consistent manner because of this show, it’s scary for a character actor. But the fans have been great. They’re writing stuff online like: “Oh my God, I can’t believe it! He’s back! Cheng is back!” I’m really enjoying it.
CE: What are your thoughts on Freddie Prinze Jr.’s statement that during his time on “24,” Kiefer Sutherland was unprofessional and difficult to work with?
TM: Look at what Kiefer’s done for “24.” He’s been in practically every scene, from beginning to end, for nine seasons. That should tell you something about this guy’s work ethic. I don’t know any actor who comes to the set more prepared than him. You can’t carry a show like this being an asshole. Everyone has his moments, even me. The fact is, he doesn’t compromise because he is trying to achieve excellence.
CE: Tell me about your new movie, “Million Dollar Arm.”
TM: It’s a simple movie about an American sports agent (played by Jon Hamm) who’s trying to revive his career because it’s going down the toilet. He wants to create a game show; it’s like “American Idol” but with baseball. He travels to India to find his athletes.
CE: You did a few episodes of “Nash Bridges” back in the day, with one of my favorite actors, Don Johnson. What was that experience like?
TM: I shot the 99th and 100th episodes of the show, so it was a big deal. Don is so generous. He took the entire cast and crew to Vegas for the shoot. We shot at the Mirage, the Bellagio — it was a ball. Don came straight up and said, “Brother, I’m so glad you’re on the show.” He’s another guy who’s really intense. Some people think he’s a diva, but he’s not. The guy is serious about what he’s doing. It’s a bum rap that guys like Don and Kiefer get in terms of being divas or being difficult. They’re not; they’re passionate and professional.
Renewed or Canceled — Fall 2014/15
Renewed shows for the 2014-2015 television season:
ABC — “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “The Bachelor,” “Castle,” “Dancing With the Stars,” “The Goldbergs,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “The Middle,” “Modern Family,” “Nashville,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Resurrection,” “Revenge,” “Scandal” and “Shark Tank”
CBS — “2 Broke Girls,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Blue Bloods,” “Criminal Minds,” “CSI,” “Elementary,” “The Good Wife,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “The Mentalist,” “Mike and Molly,” “The Millers,” “Mom,” “NCIS,” “NCIS: LA,” “Person of Interest” and “Two and a Half Men”
CW — “Arrow,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Hart of Dixie,” “The 100,” “The Originals,” “Reign,” “Supernatural” and “Vampire Diaries”
Fox — “American Idol,” “Bob’s Burgers,” “Bones,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Family Guy,” “The Following,” “Glee,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Masterchef Junior,” “The Mindy Project,” “New Girl,” “The Simpsons” and “Sleepy Hollow”
NBC — “Hannibal,” “Parks and Rec,” “Parenthood,” “Grimm,” Chicago PD,” “Law and Order: SVU,” “Chicago Fire,” “About a Boy” and “The Blacklist”
Canceled (or ending) shows:
ABC — “The Assets,” “Back in the Game,” “Betrayal,” “Killer Women,” “Lucky 7,” “Mind Games,” “Mixology,” “The Neighbors,” “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland,” “Suburgatory,” “Super Fun Night” and “Trophy Wife”
CBS — “Bad Teacher,” “The Crazy Ones,” “Friends with Better Lives,” “Hostages,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Intelligence” and “We Are Men”
CW — “The Carrie Diaries,” “Nikita,” “Star-Crossed” and “The Tomorrow People”
Fox — “Almost Human,” “American Dad” (which is moving to TBS), “Dads,” “Enlisted,” “Raising Hope,” “Rake,” “Surviving Jack” and “The X Factor”
NBC — “Welcome to the Family,” “The Michael J. Fox Show,” “Ironside,” “Sean Saves the World,” “Dracula,” “Community,” “Believe,” “Crisis,” “Revolution” and “Growing Up Fisher”
Q and A: Week of June 18
Q: I watched the most wonderful documentary on PBS the other night on the life of Johnny Carson. He is and always will be the best late-night talk show host, and I was very interested to learn about this usually private man. Will it air again soon? If not, can I buy it on DVD? — Paul F., Altoona, Pa. A: I know the documentary you are talking about, because I watched it too and absolutely loved it. In the late ’80s and early ’90s — when I was finally allowed to stay up late — I watched “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” religiously, so I was thrilled to sneak a peek into this talented man’s life. You can stream “American Masters Johnny Carson: King of Late Night” on your computer at pbs.org/americanmasters. However, if you can wait until July 17, you can purchase the DVD (or Blu-ray) of the film, which will include outtakes and bonus material, through PBS Distribution.
Q: I can’t find new episodes of “Army Wives” on the TV schedule. Is it done for the season? — Genie D., via e-mail
A: Don’t worry — there will be 10 new episodes of Lifetime’s “Army Wives” starting Sunday, June 24, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Note the new time slot, as “Wives” will now follow “Drop Dead Diva.” Upon the show’s return, Susan Lucci will be back in her guest-starring role.
Q: My wife and I loved the show “Cold Case,” and still watch the reruns. We wonder whatever happened to Kathryn Morris, who played Det. Lilly Rush. We have seen all the other lead characters on other shows, but not her. — Ron C., Roanoke, Va.
A: The gorgeous 43-year-old just finished the short film “Sunday’s Mother,” and most recently co-starred with Denise Richards and Jim Belushi in the direct-to-DVD movie “Cougars, Inc.” She also played a small role in last year’s Oscar-nominated film “Moneyball”; however, her part ended up on the cutting-room floor. I haven’t seen the DVD extras yet, but hopefully we can watch her there. I think your wife and you will agree that we need to see Kathryn in a leading role on another hit series stat!
Q: My two favorite new shows of this past season were both on Fox: “Touch” and “Alcatraz.” Will they be back for another season? — Sienna F., via e-mail
A: I’ve got good news and bad news. Want the bad news first? Fox has opted not to pick up “Alcatraz” for a second season. While it debuted pretty strong in the ratings, each week saw a steady decline in viewers, and it lost more than half its initial viewers by season’s end. “Touch,” however will be back for a second season. And, in case you were wondering, “American Dad,” “Bones,” “The Cleveland Show,” “Fringe,” “Glee,” “Kitchen Nightmares,” “New Girl,” “Raising Hope” and “The Simpsons” will all be back for new seasons come fall.
Q and A: Week of April 9
Q: Was “Terra Nova” canceled? — Mary D., via e-mail
A: Despite decent ratings and strong international sales of the sci-fi/fantasy series, Fox decided not to renew “Terra Nova” for a second season. However, 20th Century Fox, which produces the series, is shopping the show around to other networks, and hopefully it can be picked up in time for a fall premiere somewhere else (Syfy, are you listening?).
Q: I am a huge fan of HGTV. What happened to Sandra Rinomato from “Property Virgins”? — Cindy K., via e-mail
A: Sandra decided to leave the show after 130 successful episodes to start her new show, “Buy Herself,” which begins airing this month on HGTV Canada, and she hopes for a U.S. HGTV pickup soon. Rinomato stated on her Facebook page: “For the first time in history, a significant number of women are buying real estate on their own, taking charge of their financial situations. … Women buying real estate is not a fad; it’s history in the making, and I am very proud to be a part of i on TV.”
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| Paul Ben-Victor, photo by Fernando Escovar |
A: I do happen to have some “In Plain Sight” info for you, as I recently spoke with series co-star Paul Ben-Victor, who portrays chief inspector Stan McQueen. For Paul, the end of the series is bittersweet, as he explained: “There’s definitely a sense of loss and there’s a sadness there. We had become a family and have gotten even closer, especially over this past year. There’s a real warmth and love on the set. I’m really looking forward to this final season, because while playing Stan McQueen has been great, I’m looking forward to spreading my wings, and there are some very exciting opportunities out there.”
One of those opportunities is promoting his new movie, which he stars in and co-wrote, called “Should Have Been Romeo.” It was selected to the Newport Beach Film Festival in the featured slot the first weekend of the festival. “We’re real excited about that,” Paul enthused. “They’re focusing the whole event around our movie that first weekend. So, on the heels of this, there’s the last season of ‘In Plain Sight,’ which is something that’s going to be really extraordinary. Especially the last few episodes; they’re just phenomenal.”
Q: What has Christopher Judge been doing since playing Teal’c in the “Stargate” series? — Henry F., Miami
A: Christopher has been doing a lot of voice work in video games and animation, as well as a few guest-starring turns here and there on shows like “NCIS: Los Angeles.” This summer, he is set to appear in “The Dark Knight Rises,” which premieres July 20, and is sure to be summer 2012′s runaway blockbuster.
Q and A: Week of Feb. 20
Q: I’m hooked on Fox’s “Alcatraz” — thanks for recommending it! It’s what I’ve been missing since “Lost” concluded its run. Do you see the similarities? -? Donovan B., via e-mailA: I certainly do, and I’m not the only one. But the prison drama/fantasy series also is drawing comparisons to another “mythology” series. When I spoke with “Alcatraz” star Jeffrey Pierce, who plays anti-hero Jack Sylvane, he told me: “‘Alcatraz’ is sort of a hybrid between the procedural and the mythology of something like ‘Lost.’ Even the guys who die in 2012 while they are being captured, they’re still alive between 1960 and 1962, when the prisoners start to disappear. If the writers keep this sort of storytelling, where they can travel to the past and also focus on getting prisoners out, caught and on to the next, the story expands out like a cone.
“My wife and I have been watching ‘The X-Files’ on Netflix, and the mythology was the backbone of that show. It was explored maybe one out of every five episodes, but they were able to create this incredible mosaic with the Smoking Man, the Alien Bounty Hunter, and Scully’s cancer and pregnancy, but that takes place over many seasons. The key to ‘Alcatraz’ is having patience and letting the story reveal itself. Just enjoy the ride as it unfolds.”
Check back later this week to read my entire interview with Jeffrey.
Q: Over the summer, I saw clips and a promo for a forthcoming new “Dallas.” I watched for it in the fall line-up, and nothing. Then again for the midseason line-up, and nothing. Will this new “Dallas” be a series? — Henry S., Venice, Fla.
A: You and I are both excited for this new series, which will debut this summer on TNT. The 10-episode series stars “Dallas” originals Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy, Steve Kanaly and Charlene Tilton, and will introduce Josh Henderson (as John Ross), Jesse Metcalfe (as Christopher), Brenda Strong (as Bobby’s new wife, Ann) and Jordana Brewster.
Q: Do the contestants who appear on shows like “Dancing with the Stars,” “Survivor” and “Amazing Race” get paid? I say they all do, but my friend says only the winners get money. Who is right? — B.G. in Punta Gorda
A: You are correct. Contestants on these reality/competition shows do get paid for their time, of course, and the further they make it on the show (for the most part), the more they get paid. Hope you won a nice dinner for being correct!
Q: Are there any plans to release Frank Caliendo’s sketch-comedy show, “Frank TV” on DVD? — Steven K., The Villages, Fla.
A: “Frank TV,” which aired for two seasons on TBS from 2007-08, is not on DVD yet, and there is no official word as to when/if it will be. In the meantime, you can get your fill of Frank and his hilarious impersonations with his stand-up comedy DVD, “All Over the Place.”
Interview: Kali Hawk — Taking Over Hollywood, One Blockbuster at a Time
Hollywood's next up-and-comer has a little bit of everything. As a model, she is gorgeous; as a comedian, she is hilarious; as a scholar, she was accepted at the prestigious New York arts university SUNY Purchase at the age of 15; and as an actress, she is definitely keeping up and holding her own with the big boys. She has had feature roles in "Couples Retreat," "Get Him to the Greek," "Bridesmaids" and the upcoming "We the Peeples." As if that weren't enough, she is set to guest-star in a multi-episode story arc in the hit Fox comedy "New Girl." Twenty-five-year-old Kali Hawk is definitely one to watch — and if you're like me, you already like what you see. I had the chance to chat with this down-to-earth, humble and super-sweet gal recently, and was thrilled to learn of all of the new projects she has on the horizon. I'll tell ya, this kid's going places!
Celebrity Extra: "Couples Retreat" — with Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell and Jon Favreau — was your first major motion-picture role. Tell me how that all came about for you.
Kali Hawk: It came about in a very normal way — I simply auditioned for this role. I wanted to work with Vince Vaughn and I wanted to be in a movie with all the other people who were attached to it, so I just went for it. When I looked at the character description (of Trudy) and the scene that they had given me for the audition, I just tried to imagine how I could do it in the most interesting way that would help me stand out, because I really hadn’t done very much before then. I just tried to be as fearless as I could with the choices that I made in the room while I was auditioning, and luckily it was just weird enough to stand out and help push me forward. (Watch a clip here.)
CE: What was it like working with all of those high-caliber actors for your first major role? Were you intimidated or excited? A little of both?
KH: It was really exciting to me. You know how people say you should bring your A game? I feel like, for me, I didn’t really know what that meant until I was surrounded by a bunch of A-list people. The heat was definitely on to try to measure up to the opportunity that I had been given. I didn’t want to take anything for granted, and I didn’t want anyone to reconsider, thinking: “Hey! Really? Is this the best person?”
Everyone was so encouraging and just so kind, which sometimes you don’t know what to expect, especially if you haven’t really done any big movies like that. It was intimidating at first, but once I saw how nice everyone was and how encouraging they were, it just became sheer excitement the whole way through.
CE: It also didn't hurt things that you got to film it in paradise!
KH: Yeah! I know a lot of people who go to Bora Bora and they just keep going back. I definitely want to go back again and again. Just experience all that wonder — I mean, everything is just sparkly there. The sand is sparkly, the water is sparkly, the fish are sparkly, everything is sparkly, the waiters are sparkly. Everything is just glistening with yummy goodness. It was very much like a vacation being there. (Watch clip here.)
I actually remember having a moment with Jason Bateman where I had seen the movie "Hancock" about six months before I had gone out for "Couple’s Retreat," and I remember when he came on the screen I just thought: “Man, I love Jason Bateman. I just love everything he does. When he’s on the screen, he just has this warmth that just comes through. I hope one day I get to be in a movie with Jason Bateman.” And then we’re sitting in our little chairs with our names on them on the beach in Bora Bora, and I’m telling him this story and he goes, “Wow! And that’s how it happens. It’s cool that I get to sit here and have you tell me this story.” He’s such a nice guy.
CE: Next up, you got to star with even more superstars in "Get Him to the Greek." Tell me about that set experience. That looked like it had to have been a lot of fun.
KH: We definitely had a lot of fun, and of course Jonah Hill is a master improviser. He’s always making everybody crack up. He’s kind of like his own brand of intelligence and wit combined. He puts those two things together in a way that no one else is really doing. It’s just fun to be around him. And Russell (Brand) started out as a stand-up comic. So he knows how to bring the funny, definitely, but he also knew how to bring the drama for this movie. When I finally got to see the whole thing put together, I was really impressed with his dramatic acting. It will be interesting to see what he does next. (Watch a clip here.)
CE: And you worked very closely with P. Diddy — what was he like?
KH: Oh my God, he’s so focused. It definitely set an example for us to just really appreciate what we were doing because, as you know, he’s a music mogul, but he’s stepping into acting. He’s branching out, so it’s really one of those cases where someone is in the throes of new opportunities. I got to see just how much he appreciates it, how much care and attention he gives to it. It really inspired me to give that much more focus to my work.
CE: And now, of course, I have to ask you about your experience working on "Bridemaids," which was by far my favorite motion-picture comedy of 2011.
KH: It was the best! Every time you choose to work on something, you’re choosing to give your time to strangers, essentially, because even though you’ve seen some of the people on screen, you don’t know what it’s going to be like to spend three months with them, 12 to 16 hours a day, five days a week. When this movie came up, I knew that I loved Kristen Wiig, and when I read the script, it was just so good. It was one of those things where you knew it was going to be something special. I knew it even in my limited time of reading scripts and getting to partake in these movies.
Kristen is very hands-on — she actually co-wrote the script with Annie Mumolo — and so it just really felt like a labor of love, like everyone was really invested and really committed to making it the very best, and making it an opportunity for these women to shine. Even though it was a starring vehicle for Kristen, great attention was paid to giving everyone their chance at the funny. Everyone’s character needed to make an impression, and everyone needed to be memorable and lovable. You have to walk away from this story feeling like you never wanted it to end, and that is how it felt when we were making it.
I’ve actually had people come up to me at a red-carpet event or after an event, hoards of kids will be like: “Oh my God! Kahlua! Can I take a picture?” And I’m like, “How do ... I’m not even in that movie for all of it.” I just love everything about that movie.
CE: Tell me about your new movie, Tyler Perry's "We the Peeples," which is scheduled to be released March 29.
KH: It’s about a family — our last name is Peeples — and we are kind of uptight. Our father rules the roost with a bit of an iron fist. He has very tough standards for us all, and as children of his, we’re always trying to reach and to pass those standards to try to gain his favor. Kerry Washington, who plays my sister, she’s Grace Peeples. She is in love with Craig Robinson's character, and he’s not necessarily on the same level financially or professionally as we are in the Peeples family, so she is reluctant to introduce him into the family. But once the introductions finally happen, it’s an understatement to say that hilarity ensues, but a lot of crazy stuff happens.
I play Gloria Peoples, and I’ve definitely got a few secrets, like everyone else in the family. I don’t want to give anything away, but this movie is all about learning to make peace with yourself so you can relax and enjoy life without having to keep holding onto that veneer and holding it in place all the time.
CE: And now I've recently learned you have a guest-starring role on my favorite TV comedy, "New Girl"!
KH: Oh yes, yes! It was one of those things where everything lined up. I’m good friends with one of the series regulars, Jake Johnson, who plays Nick. When the chance came up for something that I could do on the show, my name got tossed around. I jumped at the chance, because there were so many people attached to it either that I knew or that I have loved from afar and have wanted to work with.
Of course, Zooey Deschanel is awesome. She’s super funny and super cool, and she’s really unique. I definitely applaud that; I want to work with people who are innovators. To me, that’s what it’s about: People who are not afraid to take chances, who are consumed with the pursuit of excellence just for excellence's sake — not for anything glorious.
CE: Can you give me any hint about your character and what you'll be doing on the show?
KH: I can tell you that I play a love interest for Winston, who is played by Lamorne Morris. I’m someone from his past who resurfaces. It’s very interesting to see how that goes because, as we all know, sometimes when you reach back and try to recapture the past, it’s not exactly the same as it was. It’s just not the same as you remember it.
CE: When will your shows air?
KH: My first episodes will air between Jan. 17 and Feb. 14. You'll just have to tune in!
CE: Oh, I definitely will!
KH: It's so wild, because as you're asking me about each project I've done so far in my career, I feel really lucky to have gotten to work on so many good projects in a row and with so many good people. I just feel really lucky. I know everybody says that. But you’re really taking a chance with any project you take on. Anytime you say yes to something that you think is great, it's just your opinion. You don’t really know what’s going to happen. You don’t know how it’s going to be received by the people.
In the case of "New Girl," it’s a hit show already, so it’s not that much of a chance I’m taking, but in general, every time you step out and try something, each opportunity is a new chance to try your luck. So when it works out well, you have to thank the movie gods and thank the acting gods for giving you that success and for allowing you to continue. At least that’s how I look at it.
Q and A: Week of Jan. 2
Q: I have been following the career of Sam Neill ever since “Jurassic Park.” I loved him in “The Tudors,” “Happy Town,” “The Horse Whisperer,” “Wimbledon,” “Daybreakers,” “Crusoe,” etc. What does he have coming up next? — Will O., via e-mail
A: Sam is rumored to be returning as Dr. Alan Grant for “Jurassic Park IV,” which doesn’t have any production or release-date details as the movie was too recently announced. He co-stars in the big-screen adaption of Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge,” to be released later this year. But you can catch him even sooner. Sam (above, fourth from the right) comes back to the small screen on Monday, Jan. 16, on Fox when he stars in the new series “Alcatraz.” This show looks creepy, scary and super exciting, and I plan to tune in to see exactly what all the hubbub is about.
Q: I really miss Christopher Meloni on “Law and Order: SVU.” Please tell me I can see him on another series or in a movie soon. — Randi E., via e-mail
A: You’ll be able to see Christopher as soon as this summer on the small screen when he makes his debut on the sixth season of HBO’s “True Blood.” Details are hush-hush, as it always is with “True Blood,” but according to executive producer Alan Ball, Chris will play “an ancient, powerful vampire who holds the fate of Bill and Eric in his hands.”
For the big screen, you can see him sometime this year (a release date has not yet been announced) in the comedy “Awful Nice.” And in June 2013, he co-stars as Colonel Hardy in the new “Superman” film, “Man of Steel,” which also stars Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, Amy Adams, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, and slew of other top-notch stars.
Q: With Piers Morgan gone, will they be getting another judge for “America’s Got Talent,” or just stick with Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne? — Callie H., Portland, Ore.
A: In a move that is causing some controversy (when hasn’t controversy followed this man?), shock-jock Howard Stern has been tapped to be the third “Talent” judge. Said NBC exec Paul Telegdy: “Howard Stern’s larger-than-life personality will bring a thrilling new dynamic to ‘America’s Got Talent’ starting this summer. He’s a proven innovator, and his track record in broadcasting is truly remarkable. Howard is very passionate about this show and is fully committed to its future success.”
Q: It seems like it’s that time of year again … when will the next season of “American Idol” be on? I am kind of disappointed by “The X-Factor,” and I could really use my Steven, Jennifer and Randy fix right about now. — Tina R., Wheeling, W.Va.
A: You don’t have to wait much longer: America’s most popular talent competition will be back Wednesday, Jan. 18, on Fox, with the show airing Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8/7c.
Q and A: Week of Nov. 14
Q: I really like “Prime Suspect,” especially the actor who plays Detective Blando. Can you tell me a little about him? He looks so familiar. — Gennifer F., Allentown, Pa.A: Tim Griffin, 42, has starred and guest-starred in countless TV series and big-screen movies, including “Party of Five,” “Charmed,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Bourne Supremacy,” “24,” “Iron Man,” “The Men Who Stare at Goats,” and most recently, “Super 8″ and “Abduction.”
I spoke with Tim about his role in the American version of the British cop drama and asked if he had any qualms about trying to “remake” such a popular series. Tim told me: “It wasn’t really until we started doing the initial press work that I realized, ‘OK, this is a sacred institution,’ because I was a huge fan of the British series too. It’s almost like a trial by fire that you have to go through. Can it be envisioned, reimagined with an American voice?
“Our partners are the original producers of the original ‘Prime Suspect,’ Tim said. “So we have that entire cannon of scripts at our disposal, and we have Peter Berg as the executive producer and director. It’s like its own new animal.”
Q: I am loving the new fall season so far — lots of good shows and only a few stinkers in the bunch. Which shows are you digging so far? — Clyde R., via e-mail
A: In the drama category, far and away my favorite show has to be ABC’s “Revenge,” which has injected a much-needed shot of campy, soapy, sexy drama into my Wednesday nights. (If you are on Twitter, you can follow my live-tweeting feeds at twitter.com/celebrity_extra every Wednesday starting at 10 p.m. ET, where all of us “Revenge” fans whoop and holler together.) I haven’t had this much fun watching a nighttime drama — nor have I talked to the TV screen so much — since “Melrose Place.”
On the comedy side, it’s a tie between Zooey Deschanel’s “New Girl” on Fox and ABC’s “Suburgatory,” whose ensemble cast of Jeremy Sisto, Jane Levy, Cheryl Hines, Alan Tudyk and Ana Gasteyer has me wiping tears of laughter from my face every episode.
Q: I love watching “The Talk” every afternoon. What happened to two of the original hostesses, Holly Robinson Peete and Leah Remini? — Joanne M., Fairport, N.Y.
A: Holly’s and Leah’s contracts were not renewed by CBS after the first season. As of Sept. 6 and Oct. 23, respectively, CBS officially replaced them with Sheryl Underwood and Aisha Tyler.
Q: I read somewhere that James Van Der Beek’s wife recently had another baby. Didn’t they just have a daughter? — Barb D., via e-mail
A: You are halfway correct, Barb. James and wife Kimberly have a daughter, Olivia, who recently turned 1, and are expecting their second child next year. James tweeted: “Just when we thought we couldn’t feel any more blessed, it seems the universe has plans to give our daughter a sibling.”
Q and A: Week of Nov. 29
Q: I am glad to see Tim Meadows back on television in TBS’s “Glory Daze.” Now that Conan O’Brien, Tim’s fellow “Saturday Night Live” alumnus, is also on TBS, is there any chance he will guest-star on the show? — Ralph T., via e-mailA: Tim Meadows’ new one-hour TBS comedy will boast a variety of comedic guest stars this season, but as of now, Conan is not one of them. However, the show is only one degree of separation away from the late-night king.
Tim revealed: “We did have Andy Richter (guest star). He did an episode on the show where he plays a priest, an adviser to one of the students. And it’s a really, really funny scene. And we have a lot of other guest appearances by other comedic actors that I think people are going to be very happy about.” You can catch “Glory Daze” Tuesdays on TBS.
Q: Now that “FlashForward” is over, where else can I get my Joseph Fiennes fix? I miss watching him on a weekly basis. — Jenny A. in Texas
A: You and me both, Jenny. This spring, Joseph will star in the Starz original fantasy-drama “Camelot,” which tells the story of a teenage King Arthur (played by “The Twilight Saga”’s Jamie Campbell Bower), with Joseph playing the part of Merlin. The 10-part period drama also co-stars Claire Forlani (”Meet Joe Black”) and Eva Green (”Casino Royale”). If the series does well, it could run for multiple seasons.
Q: I collect “All in the Family” DVDs, and they seem to have stopped at Season 6. It has been a long time since they’ve put a new one out, and I wondered if and when they were planning to? — Clint K., via e-mail
A: Just in time for the holidays, “All in the Family” Season 7, which originally aired from September 1976 to March 1977, is now on store shelves. This season of the groundbreaking series — starring Carroll O’Connor, Jean Stapleton, Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers — deals with infidelity, surgery, unemployment, life-saving CPR, draft-dodgers and accidental arson. You won’t have nearly as long a wait for Season 8, as it’s scheduled to be released Jan. 11, 2011.
Q: What is the meaning of MTAC, the upstairs room with the big screen and worldwide communications on “NCIS”? – Ron S., via e-mail
A: MTAC is short for the United States Department of the Navy’s Multiple Threat Alert Center. After the bombing of the USS Cole in October 2000, as well as the terrorist events of 9/11, the Navy Antiterrorist Alert Center (ATAC) was transformed in 2002 into the MTAC. According to the Navy’s official website, “The Department of the Navy’s Multiple Threat Alert Center (MTAC) provides indications and warning for a wide range of threats to Navy and Marine Corps personnel and assets around the world.”
Q: One of my all-time favorite actresses is the beautiful and talented Jacqueline Bisset. What is she up to lately, and what can I see her in next? — Paula F., Tulsa, Okla.A: You can catch the international superstar, who turned 66 in September, in the Hallmark Channel’s “An Old-Fashioned Christmas,” which premieres on Saturday, Dec. 11. It is the sequel to Hallmark’s highest-rated film of 2008, “An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving,” an original movie based on a short story by famed American novelist Louisa May Alcott. In this sequel, Jacqueline reprises her role as Isabella Crawford, a wealthy philanthropist traveling the world with her granddaughter, Tilly.
Of revisiting the role in the new movie, Jacqueline told me: “It’s a journey. My controlling character is having difficulty keeping Tilly in line for what I think is best for her. Isabella has good instincts about her granddaughter, but she is controlling and interfering, and she feels that is her responsibility. We are very close, but she also has seen the other side of me, which can be very suffocating. Life is complicated; relationships are complicated.”
Q: I know that “Friday Night Lights” started on DirecTV in October, and I wondered if there are plans to bring it back to NBC again in the new year, as in years past? — Eva, via e-mail
A: NBC will indeed be airing the fifth and final season in 2011, after the show ends on DirecTV’s The 101 Network, as per its agreement with DirecTV. However, an exact date has not been announced as of this writing. In the meantime, you can reacquaint yourself with the show on NBC’s website, which is streaming season-four episodes online until June 2011.
Q: The summer series “The Glades” on A&E was a great show with good plots and characters. Will this show be returning anytime soon? — Barbara E., via e-mail
A: “The Glades,” the first season of which premiered on July 11 and ended on Oct. 3, drew record ratings for A&E in the range of 3.6 million viewers, making it the most watched original drama series in the network’s history. As of the now the date is still unknown, but the show has been renewed for a second season.
Q: I could not agree more with your statement that the networks don’t give new shows a chance. I was furious when Fox canceled “Lone Star” after only two episodes. It was different, well-written and had great actors. Instead, we end up with more of the same, lame shows. — Donna W., via e-mail
A: I know, Donna, I know. If our squeaky wheel is loud enough, maybe the networks will listen. These days it seems a safer bet to take a chance on a cable network’s new show — e.g., the aforementioned “The Glades” — as cable networks tend to nurture their new shows, not cut and run at the first sign of trouble like network TV.
Q and A: Week of Nov. 15
Q: I love watching “Family Feud” and think Steve Harvey is doing great, but what happened with John O’Hurley? Why did he leave? He was a terrific host! — Gina T. in TexasA: I spoke with John (pictured left, photo credit Virginia Sherwood/NBC) recently to talk about his other hosting duties, that of the ninth-annual National Dog Show presented by Purina (which airs on Thanksgiving Day after the Macy’s Parade), and he told me the reason behind his departure: “I had a wonderful time hosting ‘Family Feud.’ They wanted to move the show to Orlando, but with my child responsibilities here that just wasn’t going to happen. So, I just have to look at it as four phenomenal years. I miss the show dearly, but it frees me up to do so many other things. I’m back on Broadway, and will be heading back to Broadway again, and those are things that I just couldn’t do as freely when I was committed to ‘Family Feud.’” John is very grateful that you enjoyed him on the show, as well as the MANY other readers who wrote in to me to tell me that they missed him.
Q: I remember awhile back you reported that “Avatar” star CCH Pounder told you that there would be a sequel. Is that still in the works, or was it just wishful thinking? — Travis G., via e-mail
A: Would I, or CCH Pounder, ever steer you wrong? There are actually TWO “Avatar” sequels in the works. 20th Century Fox hopes to have the first of the as-of-now-untitled sequels in theaters by December 2014, with the third movie released the following December 2015. Director/visionary James Cameron released this statement: “In the second and third films, which will be self-contained stories that also fulfill a greater story arc, we will not back off the throttle of ‘Avatar’s’ visual and emotional horsepower, and will continue to explore its themes and characters, which touched the hearts of audiences in all cultures around the world.”
Q: When is HBO’s “Big Love” coming back for its fifth season? — Justine D., via e-mail
A: The hit drama series about a Salt Lake City businessman (played by Bill Paxton) and his three wives (Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin) will return for its fifth and final season on Jan. 16.
Q: I read that they were making a sequel to “Napoleon Dynamite.” Is that true? — Flint M., Akron, Ohio
A: It’s not exactly a sequel. Fox has ordered six episodes of an animated version of the 2004 cult hit, which starred Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez (as Napoleon and his friend Pedro). Efren told me that one episode is already in the can and that everyone is thrilled with it. He told me that “it appeals to everybody, and it’s funny. It’s got all of the original cast and the original writers. And it’s Fox, and as you know, Fox does a great job with animated series.”
Q and A: Week of Nov. 8
Q: I think I’ve missed a couple of episodes of “Lone Star” on Fox. Is it coming back on? — Mike M., Newark, OhioQ: I fell in love with the ABC summer series “The Gates.” Do you have any idea if it will be brought back, maybe as a midseason replacement? I really need to know what happens! — Karen D. in Virginia
A: “Lone Star” was the first casualty of the fall 2010 season. Despite rave reviews and being the critics’ darling, low ratings forced Fox to pull the series after only two episodes.
And the same fate seems to have befallen the summer series “The Gates” (which was one of my favorite shows of the year) and “Scoundrels.” On Oct. 15, “The Gates” star Frank Grillo (pictured) tweeted: “Don’t shoot the messenger … “The Gates” is officially canceled. I knew my source was right. Thanks to all of you for supporting us.”
As of this writing, ABC’s “My Generation” and NBC’s “Outlaw” (starring Jimmy Smits) also are kaput. One the cusp of cancellation — however, they still could be saved — are “Undercovers” and “Running Wilde.”
Q: Last season on “The Mentalist,” there was an actor on one of the episodes playing the role of a billionaire who really resembles Kevin Spacey. Who is he, and what else can I see him in? — Jay F., via e-mail
A: You’re thinking of 43-year-old Canadian actor Currie Graham. Most recently he co-starred with Jaime Pressly in “Smoke Screen,” a made-for-TV movie based on the Sandra Brown novel. The movie premieres Sunday night, Nov. 21, on the Lifetime Movie Network.
Q: Sean Murray of “NCIS” sure has lost a lot of weight. Is he ill or on some sort of a diet? — Mrs. G., Venice, Fla.
A: Sean, who turns 33 on Nov. 15, explained via his Twitter account that his weight loss came from “14 months of no alcohol and almost no sugar. Ate strictly organic. … You can actually see me gradually lose the weight over the 24 (episodes) of Season 7; a pound every week or two.”
Q: I enjoy watching classic black-and-white movies on television. What does “RKO” stand for in the RKO Pictures logo? — Tashi G., Dearborn, Mich.
A: RKO stands for “Radio-Keith-Orpheum.” RKO was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum (KAO) theater chains brought together under the control of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) back in 1928.
READERS: A few weeks back, a reader asked when TNT’s “Men of a Certain Age” would be back for its second season, and I answered that it would be Nov. 29. The network has since pushed that date back to Monday, Dec. 6, so re-mark your calendars!
Interview: Efren Ramirez Wants to Surprise You
No one could have predicted that August 2004 would have brought us a cult-phenomenon movie — which will soon be turned into an animated television series — that would have us all buying VOTE FOR PEDRO T-shirts, researching Ligers and exclaiming: "GOSH!" Napoleon Dynamite was the big break for Pedro himself, Efren Ramirez (pictured left, courtesy WENN), who has gone on to star in a wide variety of projects, including Crank, Nacho Libre and HBO's Eastbound and Down (on Sunday nights at 10:30). Hot on the heels of the news that Fox has turned Napoleon Dynamite into an animated series, featuring the voices of all the original actors of the film, I got the chance to catch up with Efren.
Celebrity Extra: I read that you were up for both Napoleon Dynamite and (the big-budget Western) The Alamo, and decided to go with Napoleon. Is that true, and if so, what led you to that decision?
Efren Ramirez: Yeah, that’s true. I was working on a television show called Even Stevens at the time with Shia LaBeouf, and I auditioned for roles in The Alamo and Napoleon Dynamite. And even though The Alamo was a big feature film, and it had Billy Bob Thornton and Dennis Quaid, I decided to make the riskier choice. You have to do it for the right reasons. So when I took that risk with Napoleon Dynamite, I was surprised with the outcome.
CE: It became such a huge phenomenon — it's a cult classic. Could you ever have imagined that?
ER: I was recently at the museum called the Huntington Art Gallery, and there were a bunch of kids everywhere — and mind you, these kids were 10 years old, 12 years old. They saw me and they went bananas, and I thought: “Wow! When Napoleon Dynamite came out, they were like 5!” It still and will always be surprising to me, that I’m a part of something that people will remember for … well, most of their lives, I hope.
CE: Do you ever get tired of people calling you Pedro or telling you that they voted for Pedro?
ER: That happened yesterday at the gym! Some guy was like: “Oh my God. How ya doing, Pedro?” It’s funny, because I’m assuming that a lot people think it’s a documentary, when it’s not. It’s a feature film, guys. But the other part is it's entertainment, and you watch it and you get so into the film, and that’s great. When I see people like that it means they are big fans of the film, and when I talk to them and they are like, “My God, you’re so different.” And I’m like, “Yeah.” To me, I’m lucky because not only did I get to play in a movie that a lot of people like, but I played a character that a lot of people like. And I worry about actors who play villains, because they become hated everywhere they go, and that’s not cool. That’s harder.
CE: And now Fox is producing an animated version of the movie. How is that going so far?
ER: Well, we’ve done the very first episode already, and it’s been approved by every department. Once I read the script, I thought, “OK, this is gonna be really funny!” Because we’re jumping back into the world of Napoleon Dynamite and to make it into an animated series, we’re gonna get a large audience. It appeals to everybody and it’s funny. It’s got all the original cast and the original writers. And it's Fox, and as you know, Fox does a great job with animated series.
CE: This season you are also in another cult-phenomenon-in-the-making, Eastbound and Down. Tell me about this season and your role in it.
ER: Well, I’m a big fan of the first season. I have it on DVD, and it brought me to the world of Kenny Powers. Those guys are such outlandish characters. The second season starts when Kenny is in Mexico and decides to play baseball there. I play his neighbor and my name is Catuey. As far as my work is concerned, I’ve always played very far-stretched characters, and it is only this time I’m actually playing a very wise, family-oriented character. I'm a very straight character with all the lunatics roaming around. And of course you’ve got Danny McBride as Kenny Powers and Steve Little, who plays Stevie Janowski. And even Michael Pena, who’s playing the baseball manager, he’s really out there too. I play Danny McBride’s neighbor and every time he get up to his antics, he always comes back to me, and I give him good advice.
CE: It must be tough being the straight man to Danny and having to keep a straight face!
ER: It is! Because the way Danny works and the way everybody works is you stay scripted to the scenes, but sometimes he’ll improvise the entire thing. And as an actor you have to just jump into the scene with him and whatever happens goes! And I like that, because it’s so true and in the moment. I enjoy working on the show, because these guys are smart at what they do. They know what they are doing.
CE: What can you tell me about your next project, Casa de mi Padre? I know the film stars Will Ferrell and it's all really hush-hush.
ER: Well, what can I tell you? One, it’s my fortune to be able to work with Danny McBride and all those good guys. But then to jump onto Casa de mi Padre working with Will Ferrell under Gary Sanchez’s direction. These guys are great men. The film itself, what can I tell you? What a ride! It’s all in Spanish with English subtitles. Will Ferrell had to do the whole film in Spanish and he did a great job actually. And when you go with Will Ferrell, it’s definitely a Will Ferrell movie. It’s very funny. The writer is Andrew Steele and he used to write for Saturday Night Live, so these guys know comedy. I’m in a good place right now.
CE: I can't wait to see how this one is going to turn out — I can only imagine right now!
ER: Even the way Matt Piedmont, the director, directed it; there are some really dramatic moments. Everybody had to be at the top of their game. It’s certainly different. And that’s good, because you want to create something that’s going to be surprising to the audience.
CE: I was surprised with the cast, especially Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna, who are known for their dramatic work, to see them in a Will Ferrell comedy ...
ER: I wish I could tell you what I think while on the set! I would just think, “Is this really happening?” It’s funny.
CE: You just have so many great projects going on right now, it must be nice for you as an actor.
ER: No, that’s okay. I’m gonna quit. I’m gonna quit acting. I’m done! I’m going to become a desert priest (laughs). It’s great because after Napoleon Dynamite, I was able to really select where I wanted to go. And part of being an actor, you just want to grab any job possible. But now I’m about waiting and sitting around, and go let me do three projects a year. This year is over, but next year I already have two projects.
As an actor, once you do a project — Jeff Bridges said you want to try and shift 45 degrees and do something totally different, so you’re always surprising the audience all the time. That’s why I’m able to enjoy doing dramas, actions and comedies. All the great actors who just keep changing and transforming to different characters, that’s what I want to do. That’s how I want to be.
CE: You’re on the right track. You’re certainly not pigeonholed in any particular "type."
ER: Yeah, a lot of people are coming up to me going, “My God, that’s you!” And I’m like, “Yeah.” When I did the Crank series, not only did I play the transvestite, but I played the transvestite's twin brother, and everyone was like, "Dude! What?!" But it’s always about the work. And later my mom said, “Ah, I wish I had a daughter.” And I was like, “Thanks, Mom!”
Interview (Glee): Kevin McHale: "We're in Awe!"
Glee triumphantly returned to Fox last week to enormous critical praise, and tonight's episode, "The Power of Madonna," should be no exception. I got the chance to catch up with one of the show's stars, Kevin McHale [pictures courtesy Fox (2) and NBC (1)], who plays Artie Abrams on the hit musical comedy. (Catch the first part of my interview here.)Celebrity Extra: How long does it take for the cast to learn the songs and choreography to be ready for filming? It would seem to be a lot more work than your conventional sitcom or nighttime drama.
Kevin McHale: It’s regular for us to do a 15- or 16-hour day. Just shooting the episode itself takes eight days, sometimes 10. That doesn’t include the dance rehearsals before and the recording of the songs before that. It’s really hard for the writers too. You have to go into getting the songs cleared and dance before you even look at the scripts. It takes months and months of work, just per script. It’s a big process, and I think now that we’re shooting the back nine for season, we kind of got the rhythm of it. We’re doing something new. No one has ever done all this in combination with each other. It’s a learning curve learning how to balance everything. I think we have it down.
CE: How long did you work with the wheelchair before filming? You look very natural with it.
KM: For the pilot, we had about three weeks of dance rehearsal and recording, so I did get to kind of mess around with it for a good two-and-a-half to three weeks before we started shooting. The first number we ever did was “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” In the show, it’s only like 5 seconds long. In reality, we choreographed the entire song. Within those first few days of learning that number, I kind of figured out everything I could do in the wheelchair. It was pretty early on that I tried to master my skills in the wheelchair.
CE: Your arms must be really tired at the end of the day!
KM: I wish I could say they were. I wish I could say I’m super strong now, but no I’m generally really light and the wheelchair’s light, so I’m not really pushing around anything.
CE: I want to go back to that very first episode where you guys helped make Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” hip again. Did you have any idea that Glee would become such a phenomenon?
KM: No, not at all. It was kind of insane because the pilot came out, and it wasn’t like it hit like, “Oh my god this is the best thing ever!” It took time because we were away still filming the episodes and when the show came back, we re-aired the pilot twice in the same week, and as word of mouth started to spread, it started to grow. We had hoped that it would become what it is now, but you can never even imagine what that would be. So, it’s beyond any of our expectations, including Ryan Murphy who created the show. We’re all just kind of in awe and shock, and we’re just happy that people are watching it and buying the songs so we get to go back and make more episodes.
KM: I would really love to do some sort of Michael Jackson or maybe like a Paul McCartney solo song. We’ve done the Beatles now so maybe — maybe do a Paul McCartney episode. I just saw him in concert, so I’m re-obsessed with Paul McCartney. But the thing is, we’ve kind of given up thinking of songs we could do, because the writers think of songs we would never think of, and the way they use them in the story line and in context with what’s going on with the characters is 10 times better than anything we could imagine.
CE: You all must work so hard; how do you blow off steam on the set?
KM: You know what, I think the work within itself, you don’t have time to do anything else. Performing these songs and making people laugh and the crew is so awesome. It doesn’t ever feel like work. It’s like we are with our family every single day, and we get to sing and dance and make music videos and sometimes do the most ridiculous costumes.
CE: True — you guys get to blow off steam just by doing all that singing and dancing.
KM: Yeah, it’s not like we are solving murder mysteries. If we were on a 16-hour day of CSI or something, I think we all might have to be serious all day. But we get to laugh, and we’re all roughly the same age. In between scenes, we have a lot of fun, and during the scenes, we try to mess with each other to make each other laugh. We keep each other entertained.
CE: You’ve also guest-starred on another hit comedy, The Office, as the pizza delivery kid. I was very surprised when I realized that was you. How was that set to work on? KM: That was kind of my first big thing being a part of a big show like that. They were really, really super nice. I walked on set and they’re like, “This is Kevin McHale.” And they all stood up clapping and came up to me and introduced themselves. They were just super, super nice and super friendly. It was a really chill, easy set to be on. I was the only kid on the set and I was a little shy, but they were all extremely nice. That whole thing was like the most insane three days of my life. I was like, “Oh my god. I get to be on The Office.”
When I watch it, I’m like, “Oh, there I’m about to laugh … and there,” the whole time. They’re all geniuses. I don’t know how they do what they do. I guess that was the fourth season the episode I was on, and I guess after four seasons you learn not to laugh. It was just insane. I remember the very first take was the first scene that I’m in and it’s with Steve Carell and he’s getting angry about the pizza. Then he starts improvising, and I had to hide my face behind the pizza boxes cause I’m like, “This is ridiculous.” It was hilarious.
CE: I’ll have to watch that episode again and watch you as you try not to laugh.
KM: Every time I start frowning — the same thing on Glee — if you see me frown it’s because I’m about to laugh. That’s kind of my go-to. I just have to absolutely frown so I don’t do the opposite and smile.
Don't miss tonight's episode of Glee at 8:59/7:59c, as the cast celebrates the Material Girl. And how will you prepare for tonight's show? Me — I am listening to Madonna's greatest hits double CD all day to get me pumped.
Interview: Kevin McHale Divulges Some Glee Secrets
After a four-month hiatus, Glee is finally returning to Fox tonight at 9:28/8:28c. I got the chance to catch up with one of the show's stars, Kevin McHale (picture courtesy Fox), who plays Artie Abrams on the hit musical comedy. I am very excited that Glee is finally back tonight — it seems like it's been away forever!
I know, it does seem like forever, doesn't it? We are very excited to be back.
What can we expect for tonight's show?
Tonight sets everything back up. It’s two weeks after Sectionals, and it reintroduces the story lines: who’s together, who’s not together. We also get some new characters — the lead singer and the coach of Vocal Adrenaline, played by Jonathan Groff and Idina Menzel. There’s the Will and Emma story line, and what’s going on with Rachel and Finn. And just, the Gleeks are getting focused for Regionals. In tonight’s episode, there are definitely some love triangles that you didn’t think would come up yet — a little Santana, Brittany and Finn kind of thing.
I was happy when Artie and Tina got together earlier in the season, but that was squelched. Now I hear rumors that they might be getting back together?
It does come up again next week, in the Madonna episode. The episode is like Glee on steroids. At the end of it, you are exhausted, because it is overstimulating. There is so much stuff packed into an hour — it feels like a movie. It’s definitely my favorite episode. But back to the Artie and Tina thing, I think they kind of fit together, so we’ll see how long they end up staying together — if that happens.
You can catch the full interview next week, but I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek — and enjoy the show tonight, fellow Gleeks!
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